The Guyana Organic Shield: University of Guyana Researchers Pioneer Hurricane-Proof Food Security System for Caribbean

Every year, Caribbean countries face devastation from hurricanes that not only endanger lives but also destroy agricultural production. University of Guyana researchers are spearheading an ambitious $150 million project to protect Caribbean food security through agricultural backup zones in hurricane-safe Guyana.

The Organic Guyana Shield project operates as a key component of Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy, with the potential to pioneer comprehensive organic farming methods while serving regional food security needs.

"The possibility that an entire country could over time switch from conventional to organic agriculture is likely to be a world-first. This is a ground-breaking drive to convert agriculture to a low-carbon economic sector," explains Professor Leonard O'Garro, Director of the Institute for Food and Nutrition Security at the University of Guyana.

Challenges vs Solutions

Hurricane Stress On Caribbean Food Security

Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica in 2017, destroying 95% of the island's agricultural capacity and leaving 65,000 people without power, water, or food security. The category 5 storm caused $1.37 billion in damages to an island with a GDP of just $596 million, illustrating the extreme vulnerability that defines life in the Caribbean during hurricane season.

Research from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency shows that small island developing states lose an average of $1.4 billion annually to extreme weather events, with agricultural sectors requiring 2-3 years to recover production capacity after major hurricanes. This cyclical destruction creates perpetual food insecurity across the region, leaving nations dependent on expensive food imports precisely when their economies are most damaged.

The broader context reveals the scope of this challenge. CARICOM countries imported at least 60 percent of food consumed at a total cost of about $13.8 billion between 2018 to 2020 - representing 5 percent of combined GDP. Against this backdrop, CARICOM Heads of Government called for a 25 percent reduction in food imports by 2025, but traditional approaches have struggled to address the fundamental vulnerability to natural disasters.

In May 2025, a study published in Nature Food found Guyana to be the only nation out of 186 that is fully self-sufficient in food production, meaning it produces enough of all seven key food groups for its population without imports. This unique position, combined with Guyana's hurricane-safe geography, creates an unprecedented opportunity for regional cooperation.

"If one country can feed itself, could it feed the region?" asks Professor Leonard O'Garro, Director of the Institute for Food and Nutrition Security at the University of Guyana, who recognized this cyclical crisis as an opportunity for transformative change.

How It Works: Building Regional Food Security

The Institute for Food and Nutrition Security has formulated a plan to create agricultural "backup zones" in Guyana mirroring each Caribbean island's crop production. The proposed 22,000 hectares in the hurricane-safe Guiana Shield would operate as dual-location farming systems, for example, spices for Grenada, roots for St. Vincent, organic systems for Dominica.

This insurance-style design means Caribbean food security could continue even after storms destroy island agriculture. The approach requires careful site selection and logistics planning. Professor O'Garro explains: "The plan here is to select sites that are congruent with, or easily accessible to established farming districts. These areas generally have transportation infrastructure and other public utilities in place."

The project would complement existing agricultural capacity with new standard-setting regimes and attract public and private sector investment to improve transportation, logistics, and market access. This aligns with Guyana's national thrust to become a globally recognized food center while serving immediate regional needs.

Critical to the system's success is the ability to rapidly distribute food supplies when disasters strike. The project anticipates establishing supply chain connections between islands and Guyana, creating financing mechanisms for mainland backup farms, and encouraging Caribbean investors to establish dual operations. As Professor O'Garro notes in his detailed interview with Innovation Report: "It's theoretically possible to reproduce equivalent space in Guyana for all the small islands of the Caribbean. You can set things up as close as possible to match the image of each country."

The comprehensive approach addresses not just production but the entire value chain from cultivation through distribution, ensuring that backup food supplies can reach affected populations quickly when hurricanes strike vulnerable islands.

Potential for Comprehensive Organic Farming Transition

While the primary focus addresses Caribbean food security, the project could pioneer comprehensive organic agriculture methods. "The possibility that an entire country could over time switch from conventional to organic agriculture in a comprehensive way is likely to be a world-first," explains Professor O'Garro.

The transition would protect Guyana's 85% forest cover while reducing chemical impact on land and water. Organic agriculture supports the global market valued at over $188 billion, with growth forecasted at 13% annually through 2030. The European Union, United States, and Japan represent primary consumer markets, with significant opportunities in Canada, Eastern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Currently, organic agriculture in Guyana remains a fledgling industry with limited organization regarding inputs, production, handling and marketing streams. It's dominated by small non-certified producers serving localized markets, with unknown economic performance and acreage under certified management that cannot be ascertained.

However, even for Guyana, a full transition to organic farming would require significant long-term planning and effort, including developing efficient transportation links to major organic markets, investing in unique organic brand development, and improving regulatory and trade regimes to facilitate high-value organic product exports.

The Organic Guyana Shield project provides a framework for beginning this transition while addressing immediate regional food security needs, creating a foundation upon which broader organic agriculture development could build over time.